Advertisement
2. BELIEFS: HALLOWEEN AND AMERICANS' BELIEF IN GHOSTS, GOBLINS AND DEMONS.MICHAEL SHERMER, professor at CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY in California,author, and founder of the SKEPTICS SOCIETY, an educational organization thatpromotes science and critical thinking, can discuss myths from an academicperspective -- why we love to believe in things that aren't real or cannot beproven: "Half of Americans believe in ghosts, 20 percent of Americans feelthey have the ability to talk to the dead, 75 percent of Americans say theybelieve in hell, two-thirds claim to believe in the devil, 25 percent ofAmericans think witches are real, and 5 percent say they think vampires exist.Why? We're pattern-seeking primates that connect dots. So when there issomething strange in our lives, we automatically try and make sense of it withsomething we understand. Sometimes, the only explanation is something we maynever have even actually seen before, but 'know about' through culture.Evolutionarily, human beings are not 'hard-wired' to understand somethingbeing simply 'random.' It has to have some meaning, so we attribute 'weirdphenomenon' to some context. In some cases, our only explanation is a 'ghost'or an 'angel looking down from above,' etc. Ultimately, it is beneficial forus to 'jump to conclusions' because if we're wrong, nothing is lost. We justover-reacted, that's all. So those 'bumps in the night' shouldn't be ignored.We know that instinctively. Our society today, though, is less inclined tobelieve in witches, vampires, zombies and other creatures. America today ismuch more science-driven than it was in the Middle Ages in Europe 1,000 yearsago." Shermer has appeared on many television and radio shows in the past. Alink to Shermer's video discussion on strange beliefs is listed below. NewsContact: Nick Johnson, [email protected] Phone: +1-909-621-8396 Website: http://tinyurl.com/bvt4qn (10/23/09)
Advertisement
3. BELIEFS: WHY WE LOVE HALLOWEEN. LYNN SCHOFIELD CLARK, associate professorof communication at the UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, and author of "From Angels toAliens: Teenagers, the Media, and the Supernatural" (Oxford University Press,2005): "A lot of times, it's more fun to ponder what might be true than toremain mired in the realities of everyday life. Interest in the paranormal andsupernatural is about coming to terms with the fact that we have less controlover things than we thought we did, and with the fact that maybe we know lessthan we thought we did, too. Stories about the supernatural and paranormaloccur right at the intersection of faith and science. They're titillatingbecause they ask us to consider questions such as, 'How do we know what isreal?' and 'How do we know that what we think is real is actually real?' It'sfun, but it's also significant that it's happening at a time when there's aloss of faith in the abilities of religion or science to tell us what is real.There's a decline in the clout of traditional religious and scientificinstitutions, and there's a rise in our own sense that we should question whatwe think we know as real, too." News Contact: Laura Snyder,[email protected] Phone: +1-347-240-4745 (10/23/09)
4. FAMILY ISSUES: EMOTIONAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER WHEN GAY FAMILIES BREAK UP.MIRIAM COLBERT EHRENBERG, Ph.D., executive director at the INSTITUTE FOR HUMANIDENTITY (IHI), which offers Family Q, a program of mental health workshopsfor gay parents and potential parents: "Although gay persons now more freelycontemplate marriage and family life, gay parents still face more difficultiesthan straight counterparts. For example, in the news lately, celebrity RosieO'Donnell and her wife Kelli Carpenter have said that they are working ontheir relationship 'issues' and plan to continue to raise their four children'together.' But if a gay family breaks up and legal protections, such as progay-marriage or adoption laws, are not available, how do you handle emotionsand communication related to decisions such as, will there be a primary parentor will parenting be shared? Do equal but separate parenting arrangements workout when there are not equal biological claims on the child? According torecent United States research, an estimated 6 to 14 million children have agay or lesbian parent. And, between 8 and 10 million children are being raisedin gay and lesbian households." Ehrenberg is available to discuss mentalhealth issues gay parents and children raised in gay and lesbian householdsmay experience, as well as offer gay parents and their children tips on how toproductively handle family issues, such as a breakup. She is located in NewYork City. News Contact: Michael Darden, [email protected] Phone:+1-917-868-8780 (10/23/09)
5. RELIGION: JAMES ARTHUR RAY AND THE SWEAT-LODGE DEATHS. REV. JONATHANELLERBY, Ph.D., comparative religion expert with 20 years of sweat-lodgeexperience and fasting, is the author of "Return to the Sacred: AncientPathways to Spiritual Awakening," a book on spiritual practice that addressesmany of these issues: "I have no doubt that James Ray has a mission to helppeople; we cannot forget that. What I don't understand is how he could notknow what went wrong in his own lodge. It's very curious. This many injuriesand three deaths is not a result of a small oversight. It suggests a breakdownin either training, facilitation, or the blending of materials and practices.Sweat lodges and fasting are ancient traditions that promote health andhealing when done well. The trouble is that anything that can help, if misusedor poorly delivered, can hurt, even kill. This raises a lot of questions aboutqualifications, cultural appropriation, and intent. There can be a dark sideto self-help. However, when a well-trained facilitator conscientiously followsthe traditions properly, improved health and a deep experience of peace arecommon." Ellerby is based in Tucson, Ariz. News Contact: Michelle Tennant,[email protected] Phone: +1-828-749-3200 Web site:http://jonathanellerby.presskit247.com (10/23/09)
6. RELIGION: IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING TRADITIONS PASSED DOWN THROUGH LINEAGE.DR. MATTHEW B. JAMES, president of AMERICAN PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, is a Hunatrainer who holds a doctorate in integrative psychology. James, a former Hunateacher of James Arthur Ray, sheds light on the importance of followingtraditions passed down through lineage: "Value, wisdom and rituals ofindigenous cultures need to be properly carried out and sanctioned by theelders. That means the trainer needs to make a careful study of every aspectof an age-old tradition so that the dissemination/transmission of the processis safe and effective. When the wisdom of an established lineage isthoughtfully and carefully administered, the result is greater health, a shiftin thinking and a deep sense of well-being." James is based in Kona, Hawaii.News Contact: Michelle Tennant, [email protected] Phone: +1-828-749-3200 Web site: http://www.matthewbjames.presskit247.com (10/23/09)
7. RELIGION: RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY'S LINK TO LEISURE ACTIVITIES. JENNIFERLIVENGOOD, professor of recreation and sport management at the UNIVERSITY OFNEVADA, Las Vegas Hotel College, breaks down the reasons why some adherents toreligious denominations look to faith before choosing their next hobby and whysome draw a line between church and entertainment: "Having a betterunderstanding of the relationship between religion and pastimes could beuseful for recreational supervisors and tourism organizers who developprograms and events that tailor to diverse religious groups. The activitiesthen become inclusive and participants feel a sense of belonging. Participantshave the opportunity to engage in activities that are comfortable andappropriate according to their spiritual needs. A majority of Americans saythey believe in God or a higher power and indicate that faith has asignificant influence on their lives. It is important to understand howspirituality influences all facets of their lives, which includes leisureactivities." News Contact: Afsha Bawany, [email protected] Phone: +1-702-895-5515 (10/23/09)
8. RELIGION: VATICAN ANNOUNCEMENT: ANOTHER HALLMARK OF BENEDICT XVI'S PAPACY.J. PATRICK HORNBECK II, assistant professor of theology at FORDHAM UNIVERSITYand theologian, sees the recent announcement by the Vatican, concerningAnglicans entering the Catholic Church, as another hallmark of Benedict XVI'spapacy: "What happened is nothing new. It simply regularizes what hadpreviously been done on an individual basis. It is likely that progressives inthe Anglican Communion may say 'good riddance' because the individuals who mayleave the Communion are not interested in dialogue within it. It is alsointeresting that this very public effort to create unity between the RomanCatholic Church and the Anglican Communion is primarily drawing in RomanCatholics, who represent a very distinctive point of view, rather than thosewho represent the whole range of human experience." Hornbeck studies dissentand disagreement in Christian communities today, especially within the RomanCatholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He is located in New York City.News Contact: Syd Steinhardt, [email protected] Phone: +1-212-636-6534Web site: http://www.fordham.edu (10/23/09)
PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.To submit an Opportunity by e-mail: [email protected] consult the ProfNet Experts Database: http://www.prnewswire.com/profnetTo contact ProfNet by phone: +1-800-PROFNET, ext. 1To share a thought on ProfNet Expert Alerts: [email protected]_____________ EDITOR'S NOTE We hope you're finding our Expert Alerts useful for finding experts and story ideas. If what's listed here doesn't meet your immediate sourcing needs, we invite you to submit a query, letting our members know what kind of experts you're looking for. If they have an expert who can help, they'll contact you directly. Submit your query online via our new, easy-to-use query form at http://budurl.com/profnetquery and we'll take care of the rest. Questions? E-mail us at [email protected] or call 800-PROFNET (800-776- 3638), ext. 1. _____________ EXPERT ALERTS 1. Behavior: Contrary to What Feminists Say, Men Are Not Disposable 2. Beliefs: Halloween and Americans' Belief in Ghosts, Goblins and Demons 3. Beliefs: Why We Love Halloween 4. Family Issues: Emotional Issues to Consider When Gay Families Break Up 5. Religion: James Arthur Ray and the Sweat-Lodge Deaths 6. Religion: Following Traditions Passed Down Through Lineage 7. Religion: Religion and Spirituality's Link to Leisure Activities 8. Religion: Vatican Announcement: Hallmark of Benedict XVI's Papacy
SOURCE ProfNet
